After each safari, I like to sit down and make notes in preparation for the next time --- lessons learned, what worked, what didn't work, etc.

With all the wealth of experience on this Board, I'd like to pose the question: What (and non-obvious) item or piece of equipment was most critical to your recent safari, either by its presence or by its absence?

Having just got back from trailing after elephants, I'll start the discussion off with my own current nominees: enormous quantities of moleskin, gold bond powder and vaseline. I'm basically a big pink bull of a person, and prone to getting heat rash from head to toe. The gold bond was 100% effective in keeping the nether regions comfortable. As for the vaseline, I liberally daubed it on chest,armpits, and hindquarters every morning, and never experienced any chafing, rash, or discomfort.

OK, my choices don't lead to the most savory of discussions, but they sure helped keep me in the field. Now, I'm interested in your own take on items that should not be left behind.

100oz CamelBak. Mine serves as day pack also.

How did the elephant hunt go? Where-how big?

Lubricating eye drops for late Sept., Oct. Namibia. Unscented sunscreen. I grabbed the wrong tube and ended up smelling like a pina coloda.
Scott

Rifle.

On a more serious note: binos.
I always carry them using the backstrap rather than the neck strap.

Another very useful piece is a rangefinder. If the PH has none, let him borrow yours. They might be surprised at the difference between the estimated and the measured distance....

- Lars/Finland

Avon Skin So Soft for the biting nasties, packets of Gatorade to replenish electrolytes after a long hike, and a battery powered camp fan for those warm nights when the generator is shut down and there is no breeze under the mozzy netting.

And duct tape... always duct tape!

quote:

Originally posted by twoseventy:
How did the elephant hunt go? Where-how big?

Chewore North. One old sixth molar bull, estimated between 45-50 pounds per side, and one tuskless cow. Extremely good hunt --- the CMS guys did it up right. Alan Shearing was my PH.

Flip flops. After the day's long march, my dogs were barking. It was nice to take the boots off and let the feet cool around camp.

+1 for Gold Bond Powder. My Zimbabwe PH now uses it as well year round - he calls it "tingley ball powder". BTW, make sure you get the stuff in the gold bottle, NOT the blue (which is foot powder). Another Zim PH did not know the difference and bought a bottle of the Blue variety in Dallas. Those weren't hyenas howling the night he first used it!!!!

That must have been akin to pouring rubbing alcohol on jock rot. Damn, Us Marines don't learn too quick.
How many more days Dave?

Coffee and on the Avon Skin So Soft.

Pharmacy tech told me the blue bottle of Gold Bond would work. SHE LIED!!!!! The blue bottle has menthol in it. Shorty & the twins were not happy.
When I returned home I had a very serious chat with her boss. It took 6 months before she would make eye contact with me again.
Mole skin is an absolute necessity.
The right boots for the temps at the time of the safari.
Very good thread. Thanks

I agree, duct tape makes you friends for life with your PH.

Some of the other things that I found that add greatly to my personal comfort are:

Baby wipes, ahhhhhhhh
Tweezers, for getting out the thorn tips, slivers, etc.
Nail clippers, fixing split nails, etc
General antibotic cream for those nicks and scratches
Tylenol

Things that have helped me:

Body Glide (should work better than Vaseline)
Back brush for the shower (really)
Gold Bond (Orange container)
Antihistamines (saved my ass)
Scholl's blister patches (I like them better than moleskin)
Good broken in boots, high quality hiking socks with a liner sock if lots of walking is in the program.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Antihistamines (saved my ass)


Mark

Just make sure they aren't Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) if entering Zambia.

My top nominees are:
1) Swiss army knife-for everthing;
2) Baby wipes-for everwhere;
3) Instant camera-for everyone;

A small tube of medication for cold sores. My first trip I looked like a Ubangi. I have used it on several trips and it saves the day.
The product I take is Abreva although I'm sure there are others.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Antihistamines (saved my ass)


Mark

Just make sure they aren't Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) if entering Zambia.

Frostbit,

Never been to Zambia, but I am heading to Zambia in Aug. I always take the benadryl pills when i travel. Are they banned in Zambia? What is the deal?

quote:

Originally posted by Bryce Dillabough:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Antihistamines (saved my ass)


Mark

Just make sure they aren't Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) if entering Zambia.

Frostbit,

Never been to Zambia, but I am heading to Zambia in Aug. I always take the benadryl pills when i travel. Are they banned in Zambia? What is the deal?

It's on the banned substance list. Makes no sense but unless things have changed I would substitute another antihistamine such as Allegra (Fexophenadine) available OTC. I'm not certain that is even allowed but I have read about people being all but jailed over benadryl.

baby wipes and imodium. Soft shoes for night time. I don't really know, but I would have thought duct tape would already be in camp. If it isn't, bring a roll and leave it.
k

Frogg Toggs if going in a hot weather period. They are like air conditioners when wet, wrung out and placed around the neck or other high circulation areas when you sleep.

and never forget tweezers--

SSR

Bryce,

I'll be taking generic Claritin. I sometimes have an unusual reaction to tetse bites and the Claritin seemed to work nicley.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
That must have been akin to pouring rubbing alcohol on jock rot. Damn, Us Marines don't learn too quick.
How many more days Dave?

82 days and counting - and I AM counting!

Nail clippers, esp on a 21 day

Cleaning rod to eject any stuck cases.

Desitin Ointment, a real lifesaver!

Most of this has been said before, but this is based on actual experience of forgetting to pack this stuff. I always forget something. Usually just one or two things, and usually nothing "major" like ammunition or binoculars, but here's a list of things that you do not want to forget. I never will again.

1. sunscreen (unscented is great, none? not so much);

2. Lip balm or chapstick. (I never get chapped lips -- well you would be surprised to think of the things you consider rubbing on cracked bleeding lips -- buffalo fat and motor oil begins to look pretty good);

3. More than one long sleeved shirt -- (but I brought sunscreen this time!);

4. A floppy hat or a bandanas to wear under a cap (but I brought sunscreen! Again!);

5. flip flops (what are the odds of stepping on more than one scorpion, in your tent, in your lifetime?). Trust me, it's high enough to bring a pair of flip flops. They don't weigh much.

Several tings come to mind.

1. Foot care kit. Mileskin, needle, tincture of benzoin and nail clippers (or use the scossors on your swiss army knife).

2. Shemagh. This thing makes a light sheet. Sun shade and wrap it around your nect arab style and pour water on it and instant air conditioning. It now travels everywhere with me.

3. Flip flops. Just the thing at the end of the day. if it gets cool just add socks.

4. Light weight rain gear. didn't need it for the rain but we went down to the Karoo for a couple of days and it made an excellent wind shell.

Colorful underwear . . . you can only wear so much green and khaki.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Pharmacy tech told me the blue bottle of Gold Bond would work. SHE LIED!!!!! The blue bottle has menthol in it. Shorty & the twins were not happy.

Wait - "Shorty"???

Hmph...hmmmpphhh.....hehehehe.......
HAAAAAWWWWWWW HAAAAAWWWWWWWWW HAAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!



Ahem. Thanks for the info about the blue Gold Bond, though.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Avon Skin So Soft for the biting nasties, packets of Gatorade to replenish electrolytes after a long hike, and a battery powered camp fan for those warm nights when the generator is shut down and there is no breeze under the mozzy netting.

And duct tape... always duct tape!

great minds think alike, Russell. i started a mental list after reading the first post and then got to your response. everything on my list was there- especially the duct tape and battery powered fan!

And, as a southerner, let me add "good bourbon.". In zim, they think whiskey=scotch. Glad I brought some wood ford for personal medicinal use.

I've got a list of stuff I pack that I've been working on for 20 years of safaris. The list isn't very long (and much less clothes than at first), but I'll always have multiple little packages of handi-wipes, Neosporin and cortisone ointment, extra batteries, a good wall socket adapter (and a cigarette lighter adapter) to charge electronics (on ebay.com you can buy a single USB plug that has about every charger plug from Ipad to cameras, btw), sunscreen/bug spray combo (BullFrog brand), good cigars, an extra camera, fingernail clippers and tweezers, a LeatherMan combo tool, an FM/AM/SW radio the size of a pack of cigarettes, hearing aids, dental floss (for both teeth and for fixing everything from broken glasses, etc. when served together with a liberal dose of Super Glue,a tiny GPS (Garmin Gecko for finding the truck if I get lost and finding the border if the s--t hits the fan), electrolyte replacement power, hydrocodone, a cheap pair of extra reading glasses, a mini-head lamp (about the size of a quarter and which fits on a ball cap), a sewing kit and a picture of my sweetheart to remind me why I like to be home, too.

Of course, I have a list of big stuff, but the above basically weighs nothing, takes up little space and can make life in Africa easier, at least for me.

I've never taken a battery operated fan, but I'll have one next time, for sure.

If you wear glasses, you want one of those little repair kits they sell at the drugstore checkout. I am extremely nearsighted and if a lens fell out and broke (happened to me onece when I was in high school) I would have an extremely sh*tty rest of my safari! I could tolerate blisters sunburn and jock itch, but if I can't see, I can't shoot.

I forgot to mention extra reading glasses. Gotta have those. I got a tiny pair that came in a hard round container, about like a cigar sleeve. I carry those out in the bush and leave the real readers in the tent.

quote:

Originally posted by LeonKomkov:
And, as a southerner, let me add "good bourbon.". In zim, they think whiskey=scotch. Glad I brought some wood ford for personal medicinal use.

Translated, Woodford Reserve.

some great ideas here ., i am not going to repeat but heres a few more ..

A headlamp (one of those small petzl ones) is always very useful.

one of those pullthrough hand knife sharpeners - nothing more frautrating than watching people trying to field prep an elephant buff or hippo- or anything for that matter with dull knives - they are $9 in walmart

neosporin with pain reliever

get a micro pelican case that fits your pocket camera that way a leaking waterbottle or rough treatment on the dash wont ruin it -

Nice list. Really glad I took a broadbrimmed hat, sunscreen wasn't enough. In addition to the items above, my first aid kit always has tylenol/ibuprofen/aspirin and a little kit to repair a lost filling or a broken tooth.
I learned on my first fishing trip in Quebec to take a spare camera to give to your guide/PH to take candid photos of you or things that interest them on your trip. I came back from that trip without one photo with me in it.
Bfly

Under Armour Heat Gear underwear, per Bill C. Never hunt without them now, regardless of temps.

Baby wipes, in case of a poke through.


Dulcinea

Lot's of good suggestions. For me it is sunglasses, mini surefire and a $100 bill (get-out-of-jail-card) in my pocket...